King of Kotha Movie Review: Dulquer Salmaan starrer fails to pack a punch

King of Kotha, the latest Malayalam action spectacle starring Dulquer Salmaan and directed by debutant Abhilash Joshiy, follows the path paved by recent hits Pushpa, KGF franchise, RRR and Kantara. With a traditionally alpha-male protagonist, lavish production value and meticulously conceived set pieces, King of Kotha ticks all the boxes for an entertainer. However, does King of Kotha offer anything new by adding value to the trend of vintage-style, action-driven potboilers? Let’s find out. 

3 things you need to know:

• King of Kotha was released on August 24, coinciding with the auspicious period of Onam.
• The film is a period-action drama set in the 80s.
• Dulquer Salmaan has also co-produced the film and plays the role of a gangster in it.

Hot Take

King of Kotha has got plenty of things right for itself. Dulquer Salmaan is presented in an unconventional, ruffian avatar. The narrative is backed by some stylishly designed and well-executed action sequences. Additionally, the narrative keeps springing up unexpected twists which aids character development.

The movie plays out from the perspective of a cop, who is newly stationed in Kotha. As he learns about the town's murky past, we see the narrative unfold. The viewers meet Raju (Dulquer Salmaan), the most feared man in town but not without vulnerabilities.

Is King of Kotha worth the hype?

The voiceover offers a brief history of the backdrop and then proceeds to introduce the villains. However, director Abhilash Joshiy tries to do too many things at once. As a result, King of Kotha comes across as half-hearted and rushed in most parts. Additionally, the final act, despite its share of impressive moments, feels a little drawn out and laborious. 

(Dulquer Salmaan plays Raju in King of Kotha | Image: Instagram/Dulquer Salmaan)

Plenty of twists 

King of Kotha has plenty of surprises up its sleeves. Most of them work, especially when they entail showing a new shade of an already established character. Early on, we are introduced to a villainous figure with a caricaturish demeanour. But eventually, we realise that he is far more dangerous in his intent than what appears on the surface.

The narrative pulls a similar trick later on when one of the female characters displays frightening shades of violence and blood-lust. This is a welcome change in a film that is mostly driven by male characters. The storyline is crammed with twists till the very end, and this element of surprise keeps things interesting for the viewers.  

The director shows his flair in build-up

There are many scenes where it’s clear that debutant director Abhilash Joshiy knows how to build the narrative visually. He is well-versed in the grammar of mainstream cinema, particularly in the action sequences. Joshiy and the action choreographer have a field day experimenting with camera movements, whose effect is heightened by fast-paced editing. One particular long take where Raju moves through the room as he kills henchmen plays out well. 

Script is packed with too many elements

Unfortunately, the film tries to stuff too many elements. King of Kotha is clearly staged as a star vehicle for Dulquer Salmaan, with more than a handful of sequences where the actor gets to play the menacing and towering alpha male. 

However, the writers don’t show the same kind of zeal when it comes to developing the emotional core, which is Raju's relationship with everyone around him. A story with such strong emotional elements required more more heft and attention from the screenwriters. The viewers never get a heartfelt picture of the protagonist’s equations with the people he cares for.

Initially, the film jumps from one subplot to another. This ends up being half-hearted and lacks impact as merely informs but does not make one feel anything. King of Kotha, as a result, ends up being fragmented. Showing something and convincing the viewer of it are two different things and the film fails to find the right balance.

(The film unfolds in the 80s and 90s | Image: Instagram/Dulquer Salmaan)

Dulquer Salmaan's act is a hit-and-miss 

Dulquer Salmaan shines in moments that require him to be vulnerable around the people in his life. In the second half, when Raju turns saviour, the OK Kanmani actor fits right in. He packs a mean punch or two in the action set pieces. However, in the rest of the narrative where we see Raju as this violent ruffian, Dulquer struggles to find the right tonality.

Aishwarya Lekshmi, who plays the quintessential love interest Tara, has an uphill task as her characterisation ends up being frivolous. The Ponniyin Selvan actress gets to mouth a memorable line or two but not more than that. She remains a trivial part in the larger narrative. 

From the remaining cast, Chemban Vinod Jose leaves a strong impression. He plays the English-obsessed overlord Ranjith. Shabbeer Kallarakkal, who essays the main antagonist Kannan, holds his ground and Nyla Usha, who plays Manju, brings an impressive shade of evil to her character. Unfortunately, this bunch of great performances is not enough to salvage the film.

Watch it or skip it

After the 2021 movie Kurup, those who missed watching Dulquer Salmaan play a suave anti-hero would surely find King of Kotha more engaging than an average movie-goer. But for the rest, this action-drama fizzles as often as it sparkles. And it doesn’t help that it has a run-time of 2 hours and 45 minutes, which begins to feel too much, especially in the final stretch.

Bottomline

In the hands of more skilled writers and with fewer mainstream movie constraints, this could have been a more emotionally satisfying fare. There are many moments in King of Kotha that convince us of its merits. However, the doesn’t look beyond its jazzy set-pieces and its dogged determination towards the hero-worshipping narrative. It feels half-hearted in its efforts, and remains a barely passable fare.

Rating - 2.5/5